Dropping evening temperatures and clear skies on Tuesday night caught a driver off-guard the next morning, including one whose vehicle ended up on its side on Deer Park Road, apparently a victim of black ice.
Meanwhile, a two-car wreck in Carlsborg a little later resulted from a simple failure to yield.
Personnel from both Clallam County Fire District 2 and the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office arrived at about 8 a.m. at a single-vehicle non-injury rollover on Deer Park Road, according to an email from Fire District 2 Chief Jake Patterson.
“Two occupants and one dog who all got out prior to our arrival and declined medical aid,” Patterson said. “They were traveling south on Deer Park Road and hit black ice and lost control. Over corrected and went into the ditch which caused the vehicle to roll onto its side. Deer Park Road was partially blocked for about one hour until the vehicle was removed.”
In the other wreck, one person was taken to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles following a two-vehicle collision at U.S. Highway 101 and Carlsborg Road.
A 2001 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driven by Kyler W. Rollness, 21, of Sequim was westbound on U.S. Highway 101 at Carlsborg Road at 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to a State Patrol incident memo.
A 2013 Kia Soul SUV driven by Jaiden M. Slowey, 18, of Sequim was eastbound on U.S. Highway 101 when it made a left turn at the Carlsborg Road intersection. The driver of the Tacoma failed to yield at the intersection and struck the Kia, the memo stated.
Slowey was taken to Olympic Medical Center. His condition was unavailable Wednesday.
Rollness was cited for failure to yield. Both drivers and a passenger in Kia were wearing seatbelts.
Meteorologist Dustin Guy from the National Weather Service in Seattle said Wednesday afternoon that no more black ice was expected this week.
“We have some spots down around freezing,” Guy said. “A front went through (Tuesday) afternoon that led to clearing, and a clear sky is an effective way to radiate heat.
“Just a few hours of clear skies, and if there’s water on the roadway, it can ice up pretty quick. We should be out of the woods for black ice. It’s supposed to be mid- to upper 30s for the rest of the week.”
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at brian.gawley@soundpublishing.com.
